Rx for ailing parishes: change the tone; involve everyone; turn outward.

On most Sundays in most parishes, Catholics file into the pews with low expectations of being inspired, challenged, engaged, or motivated. As a pastoral consultant, I work with parishes to raise those expectations. My first step is to survey the attitudes and practices of the parishioners, active and inactive. When we ask if they come to Mass regularly, over 70 percent say, at least every other week. This usually puzzles parish leaders, because by their count generally less than half of the registered parishioners are present on any given weekend.

People say they come, but many don't. Why not? In part they no longer feel obligated to attend (less than half think it is a sin to miss Mass on the weekend). Since telling people they must go to church under pain of sin is no longer compelling, something else must be drawing those who do go. And we explore this with one of our survey questions, "What is the primary reason you come to Mass?" The highest response is "to hear the Word of God." Higher than obligation, Communion, the homily, the music, or a sense of community. Why so strong an attachment to the Word? For one thing, most Catholics encounter Scripture only at Mass. Only a third read the Bible except on rare occasions and they say they find the readings at Mass inspiring and thought-provoking.

Of course, it is possible that people say the Word of God is most important because nothing else has much meaning for them. The sense of community is often reduced to a perfunctory handshake at the greeting of peace. The music is frequently more suitable for listening than for joining in. The homily? In many cases it does not speak to people's experience. On our surveys, people say they want meaningful homilies and not just a repetition of the Gospel story. People hunger for meaning during Mass. They have grown accustomed to setting for less.

What can be done to stem the tide?

First step: Ask the folks! Parish leaders must be ready to hear the real views and feelings of parishioners. At first, people give priests and leaders the benefit of the doubt. "Everything is fine. Father, this is such a lovely parish." If, however, parishioners catch on that the leadership wants to know what people really think of the liturgy, the parish, the pastor, church teachings, it comes tumbling out. The occasion for this disclosure must be safe and supportive. It must also be productive. Too many people have given up speaking their minds to church leaders. What good does it do? Nothing changes.

One place to hear what people have to say is in small groups. These may be one-shot focus groups or ongoing small communities. Parishioners are invited to join with a few others and are asked specific questions about various aspects of the parish. They may also gather in more informal settings for general discussions about what they would like to see happen or changed in the parish. Whatever the format, the information must get back to the pastor, staff, and lay leaders in ways that can be heard, assimilated, and acted upon.

That takes us to step two: openness to change. I can hear the leadership reply, "We are open to change. We're changing all the time. We have a new hymnal and new songs; we have a new religious education program that is lectionary-based. We have a new approach for the youth program. What more can we do?"

For the person who comes to Mass but not much else, nothing much looks as though it's changed. Church neither excites, nor speaks to their needs. When parishioners have a crisis in their lives, they may contact the parish, but more likely, it is a friend or counselor who gets called. The parish doesn't seem to have an established place in their lives.

Once parish leaders really listen well to the stories and understand the feelings of those average parishioners, they must do something in response to what they have heard.

"But do what?" "What will make the church important to those people?" My answer is: change the tone, change the decision making, and change the focus.

Change the tone

Question: Given the many options that fill people's lives, especially on weekends, what will tip the balance toward coming to church? Answer: Change the tone of the Mass. Most parishioners now have to make a conscious choice to attend Mass. A Mass that is welcoming, inclusive, rewarding, and meaningful can make the difference. From the moment someone walks through the doors of the church, they should feel "at home." Everything the person encounters, from the environment of the church to the gathered congregation, must speak, "welcome, come be part of our worship. Be part of our community of faith."

Whether the parish is large or small, this tone of welcoming and acceptance is infectious. I once attended a nondenominational church where I was one among thousands of worshippers. I will never forget the attention given to me, from being guided to a parking place to the welcome at the door. It was not obtrusive or overdone, just respectful and inviting. Contrast that to a small parish where I was one of a few hundred attending Mass. The predominant feeling was aloofness and alienation. No one reached out to me, or anyone else, for that matter. I was on my own.

First impressions count. In five to seven minutes people size up the situation and make a judgment about whether the climate is inviting or alienating. That is how much time a parish has to keep people interested in the Mass. The presider has much to do with setting the tone. Greeters at the door, compelling music, or an inviting and warm environment can all be negated by the staid manner of the priest. "The Lord be with you," can be said in such a way as to mean, "I'm here to do my duty, you're on your own."

If, on the other hand, the priest processes up the middle aisle with a smile, making eye contact with people and then turns to greet the congregation with genuine interest, he sets the tone for what follows.

Pray in a manner that conveys the meaning of the prayer, whether of petition or praise. Preach the homily with passion and intelligence. Receive the gifts with gratitude and appreciation. These are the tone-setters that say this is more than a routine celebration. It is a loving encounter between God's people and our Creator and Lord. What is so difficult about that? And why should it be such a rare experience in Catholic churches?

The tone and spirit of parish worship--praying, preaching, presiding, singing--may get comments in the parking lot, but it is rarely critiqued or analyzed in a serious and constructive way. Imagine what could happen if it became a regular agenda item for parish council or liturgy committee meetings? The problem--and the hesitation--is how to raise these delicate matters with sensitivity and care so as not to threaten or insult the presider and other liturgical ministers. A way must be found. What could be at stake, if not addressed, is the future life of the parish.

This effort at creating a positive, accepting tone in the parish carries over to the way the phones are answered at the office, newcomers are welcomed into the parish, religious education and adult formation take place, and those in physical or spiritual need are cared for. If pastor, staff, and lay leaders pay attention and strive to create a welcoming atmosphere, then all these contacts become avenues for inviting people into the community and into worship. Once this atmosphere is established, parishioners are more willing to make allowances for shortcomings and failings. The parish is home to them, a community of caring, warts and beauty spots together. The parish acquires a reputation for friendliness and acceptance. This reputation is infectious and self-reenforcing as parishioners adopt this mentality and take responsibility for the care of one another.

Change the decision making

Creating a welcoming tone is a start, but it can be seen as a sham if it is not accompanied by a mentality of shared decision making. Who owns the parish? Is it the leadership--pastor, staff, council, and finance committee? Or is it the people? The rhetoric is that the parish belongs to the people. But most parish decision making shows that, in fact, it belongs to a select few. Nothing turns people off more than to realize they have no input or recourse into issues that affect their lives. The sanctuary is renovated to make the Mass, as the liturgy committee contends, "more liturgically correct." The baptismal preparation program is mandatory for all parents, no matter how many children they've had. The outdoor Stations of the Cross undergo an expensive renovation although they are used only once a year. The annual summer festival is canceled because it takes too much time and energy to prepare and is disruptive to priests and staff. These may be necessary decisions but the way in which they are made often ignores the wisdom and wishes of the parishioners. This is not to say that the entire parish needs to decide, but parishioners should be consulted, even those who are not very active.

Consider the renovation of the sanctuary. A change in the worship space probably affects more parishioners than any other decision a parish makes. They have a right to have their views known and opinions heard. One way to include people's ideas is to focus on the basic issues.

A select committee, after study and consultation, proposes a plan for the renovation. It is presented to all those attending Mass on a given weekend and includes basic information about the reasons for undertaking the project, about realistic alternatives, and about the cost. The parishioners are assured that they are being consulted before anything is settled, and they are being given a chance to influence the outcome.

For the first week or two the people are asked to study the plan and think up reasons for not going with the proposal, even if they like it. Then there follows a period for considering reasons for accepting the plan. At the end of this consultation, every adult member is asked to fill out a card in the pews that asks, "If you had to make the decision, would you accept or reject the proposal? What is one reason for your decision?" The parishioners are not voting on the plan but their inclusion in the process shows that their judgment and wisdom are considered worthwhile and valuable. No one is left out. The results of this consultation are then turned over to a group made up of people the parish respects and trusts to reach a final decision.

This example is only one among many of how parishioners can be included in the parish's decision making. As people have a chance to provide input into its liturgies, programs, and activities, they begin to take greater interest in and ownership of its life and operation. The community becomes a circle of believers, each with unique gifts and insights, who contribute as a whole to the future direction of the parish.

Change the focus

The third and most profound change that will maintain interest and provide growth is to shift the focus of activity from parish to everyday life. Too often a large chasm exists between what people do during the week and what happens in church. People take a giant step over this chasm when they attend Mass. They seem to leave behind one world and enter another. This sense of separation can be reenforced when leaders seek volunteers to help with parish ministries and projects. The more gifted and generous the volunteer, the more the person is asked to participate in, or even lead, parish functions.

This is not a bad thing for those who have the time and inclination. Most of those who volunteer feel they receive much more than they give, but this call for volunteers and an emphasis on parish ministry should be secondary to stressing holiness in home and workplace. The Gospels suggest that most of Jesus' ministry was in the fields and on the streets. In this context, the parish should become a place to strategize and gather support for the real ministry of healing, forgiving, and nourishing people "out there."

Imagine what a parish would look like if, at every Mass, activity, and program the rallying cry was, "You are the grace-bearer. Take the Good News to those who really need it the most, those in your homes, offices, malls, freeways, and airports. Practice the Gospel readings, share a peace greeting, extend Eucharist, be church to those you meet. We will help you. We will listen to what happens. We will accept whomever you bring back with you to our next gathering. We are behind you, but it is in your hands. No one else can touch the people interact with this day, this week, this month. May God be with you, as we are in spirit."

In order to get across this emphasis on everyday life, the liturgies and programs must cease to be inward looking and become outward directed. The active members are not the ones who belong to four parish organizations, help out with six ministries, and count the collection. The truly active members are the ones who spend their energy ministering to their family, friends, acquaintances, and co-workers. They take what motivation and resources they need from the parish community and give themselves to those who may not encounter church in any other way but through them. At times, these active church-in-the-everyday ministers may spend time sharing their experiences and forming other parishioners in this ministry. The focus, however, is looking outward to the world and surrounding community. Only a fraction of the focus is on the parish and its own operation. The purpose of the parish is to be of service to the everyday ministry of its people.

What I propose in the parishes I serve is a change of tone, a shift in decision making, and a new focus. That is because the core of parish life is fostering relationships in three interdependent areas. One area is fostering a personal, loving relationship with the God who is within and among us. The second area is to help parishioners foster relationships with those that are close to them, whether family, friends, or community. If belonging to a parish does not support and enhance one's personal relationships then it is not relevant to what is most important to the person. The parish's role is to keep people connected to one another.

The third area important for parish life is fostering relationships with the world outside the parish and beyond the circle of one's community. "There is neither Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female. All are one in Jesus Christ" (Gal. 3:28). The mission of the parish is to accept and include everyone. The task of its members is to be church to those who feel alienated, disenfranchised, and neglected.

Parishes remain viable institutions. They have the potential for much good. Changes, however, must take place if parishes are going to live up to their calling as inclusive, inviting, outward-looking gospel communities. Jesus said to his disciples when they told him that the people were growing hungry, "Why do you not give them something to eat yourselves?" (Luke 9:13). Like the disciples, our response is often, "How can we do that? Our resources are too limited. It is an impossible task." Jesus' response shows that we should take what we have and see how far it goes. We may be surprised to discover, as Luke tells us, that after everyone had eaten that there was plenty left over. The same is possible in our parishes.